The brothers and families of Guildford circle deeply mourn the death of Paul Peter Johnson,
a member of the circle for almost 40 years, who passed away on 25 June after a debilitating illness, which he bore with great patience and bravery. He was aged 85.
Paul, a man of great principle, staunch in his Catholic beliefs, determined and unwavering in argument, was greatly respected by all those who came to know him. He was born and bred in
the East End of London but when only ten years old, with war against Germany imminent, he was evacuated to the supposed safety of Jersey, in the Channel Islands. Here he stayed with his aunt and uncle and went to the local St Saviours School. However, hardly two years had passed when the Germans occupied the island subjecting the populace to increasing hardship and starvation until the end of the war four years later. Only then was Paul able to return to his London family. Paul never forgot those island days, nor his intense Britishness nor the duty he owed to his mother country.
It was no surprise then that Paul joined the Royal Navy at an early age and found himself engaged
in the Korean war. He became an expert in naval photography and was duly appointed Head of the Photographic branch, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. On returning to base he was posted to Derry, Northern Ireland, where he met his true love, Maureen, marrying her on St George’s Day, 1957. Thereafter, Maureen and he travelled the world together until he retired from the Navy twenty two years later.
On leaving the Navy he pursued a management career in the City and then returned to his favourite occupation: photography. First of all he established a photographic business in Guildford and then moved into academia as Head of the Photographic Department at Guildford College. Paul became
a Catenian in 1976 and was President of Guildford Circle in 1980/81. He also joined Rotary, became
a local town councillor and fought many a battle to improve the facilities of Guildford, the town he came to love, over some 12 years. In the little spare time he had, he luxuriated in his family, played the stock market, became a great gardener and loved a game of bridge.
His Catenian friends will long remember the deep conversations they often had with Paul, which somehow always managed to end on a humorous note, with a tale or two of his naval exploits. One
of his favourite stories was about the time he was interviewed for promotion by an Admiral, who proceeded to ask him where he was brought up. Paul told him proudly: “Jersey, Sir”. The Admiral responded by telling Paul he himself had been brought up in Guernsey. “Well, Sir”, quipped Paul, “No-one is perfect”. He got the promotion.
Paul leaves behind his wife, Maureen, their three children, Carol, Paul and Gaby and four grandchildren. God bless him and may he rest in peace!
Michael Shortland
10 September 2014
